Spanish authorities have accused the Department of Justice of using delaying tactics to slow down the extradition of Dermot McArdle, who was finally convicted of his wife's manslaughter in 2008.

Last week, a court in Malaga issued a European arrest warrant instructing gardai to detain the father of three at his home in Heynestown, Dundalk. But a source at the court claimed that normal procedure was not upheld.

He said that normally Interpol in Spain contacts the Dublin office, who pass the European arrest warrant on to Irish police.

"The arrest was held up because the Irish authorities asked for the warrant to be sent to the Department of Justice rather than through Interpol," he said.

"That is not standard procedure. The European arrest warrant is normally dealt with directly through Interpol."

But last night the Department of Justice denied any delay on its part and said the correct line of processing requests from Europe had been upheld.

"The central clearing authority for dealing with European arrest warrants is the Department of Justice, not Interpol," a spokesman said.

"The request for the arrest and extradition of an individual in Ireland also comes to the Department of Justice. There is no question of delay on our part on processing requests and having them executed," he added.

The spokesman added that the department is not aware of any outstanding requests relating to McArdle.

Spain

But sources in Spain claim that McArdle could be arrested at any moment.

McArdle (41) is due to serve two years in a Spanish prison for the manslaughter of his wife Kelly Ann Corcoran.

Ms Corcoran (29) died two days after falling from room 421 of Marbella's five-star Melia Don Pepe Hotel after arguing with her husband. He was ordered to pay his two sons, Mark and Paul, €60,000 each for the loss of their mother. He was also ordered to pay Ms Corcoran's parents Ted and Bridie €100,000.

McArdle later launched a series of legal appeals in an attempt to stay out of prison.